Saint Augustine
Saint Augustine
Augustine of Hippo, also known as Saint Augustine, Saint Austin, Blessed Augustine, and the Doctor of Grace, was an early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He was the bishop of Hippo Regius, located in Numidia. He is viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers in Western Christianity for his writings in the Patristic Era. Among his most important works are The City of God and Confessions...
ProfessionSaint
heart humble light
Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity. Enter again into yourself.
humble grace proud
It is not that we keep His commandments first and that then He loves but that He loves us and then we keep His commandments. This is that grace which is revealed to the humble but hidden from the proud.
stars heart humble
For great are you, Lord, and you look kindly on what is humble, but the lofty-minded you regard from afar. Only to those whose hearts are crushed do you draw close. You will not let yourself be found by the proud, nor even by those who in their inquisitive skill count stars or grains of sand, or measure the expanses of heaven, or trace the paths of the planets.
humble humility heart
There is something in humility which strangely exalts the heart.
marvel pass people rivers themselves travel
People travel to marvel at the mountains, seas, rivers and stars; and they pass right by themselves without astonishment.
loved
Better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all.
abroad admiration admire circuits compass heights men mighty themselves tides
Men go abroad to admire the heights of mountains, the mighty billows of the sea, the broad tides of rivers, the compass of the ocean, and the circuits of the stars, and pass themselves by.
cauldron ears sang
To Carthage I came, where there sang all around my ears a cauldron of unholy loves.
aspire begin great
You aspire to great things? Begin with little ones.
good
If we live good lives, the times are also good. As we are, such are the times.
Oh Lord, give me chastity, but do not give it yet.
abstinence easier
To many, total abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.
believe faith reward
Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.
despairing god knowledge man senseless suffer understanding
God will not suffer man to have a knowledge of things to come; for if he had prescience of his prosperity, he would be careless; and if understanding of his adversity, he would be despairing and senseless